Denmark’s billion-dollar investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) is being met with skepticism from Germany’s Nature and Environment Agency and the state government of Schleswig-Holstein, Danish broadsheet Politiken reports based on consultation responses published by the Danish Energy Agency.

The concern south of the border is about safety and environmental impact, and the Danish authorities have therefore been encouraged to conduct further investigations.

The German environmental agency, UBA, is of the opinion that ”the implementation of CCS projects is contrary to the precautionary principle” and points out the risk of the subsoil not holding tight. The Danish Nature Agency and Schleswig-Holstein fear, among other things, that the pumped gas could displace groundwater and contaminate drinking water.

The CCS projects have yet to be put out to tender, and Henrik Sulsbrück, Head of Division at the Danish Energy Agency responsible for the CO2 storage issue, guarantees that ”no projects will be approved in Denmark where leaks can occur.”